The Panel

This week on The Whip, panellists Ruwani Perera, David Farrar and Sue Bradford begin with Winston Peter's shocking move on Palestine statehood recognition. Then they unpack the government's electricity sector changes unveilled today, and the question everyone's asking: do they go far enough to bring power prices down? Then, with less than two weeks left to vote in local body elections, the panellists take a look at the 10 percent turnout so far in Auckland.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: how do telephones work? Wallace speaks to an expert in the field, Brian Potter. He started as a telephone exchange engineer at the New Zealand Post Office in 1971, and these days he shares his knowledge at MOTAT's telecomms section.

In part two, how do you cope in a season of workplace restructures and job losses? Psychologist Dougal Sutherland explains how you can support yourself, and your colleagues. Then, New Zealanders love our giant sculptures, but is $300,000 too much to spend to restore the Rakaia salmon? Local councillors are divided.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Michael Moynahan and Jenni Giblin. First up, the cost of power is front of mind today as the government announces an energy sector shake up. But the changes fall short of what's required to bring prices down in the short term, say critics. Then, a new nationwide study looking at nitrate levels in drinking water outlines grave concerns for rural Cantabrians and Southlanders. Lead author Karyne Rogers explains.

Wallace Chapman and producer Tessa Guest preview tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: it's another hit of Kiwi Nuggets, our look at New Zealand design history. This week: the Scanospheric Electronic Pool Table, the Deloran of pool tables.

In part two, the road cone hotline has been cranking along, it's had its detractors, but the number of reports received suggests that it's a popular move for punters, with over a thousand tips in the first few months. Then, we're heading to little Taranaki town of Hawera now, where window painter Mel Graham has been painting temporary murals on shopfront windows for years, and demand for her work is booming.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Cindy Mitchener and Allan Blackman First up, a collection of unions have suggested a radical idea to bring down power prices: why not return the electricity generators back to 100 % public ownership? The Panel discusses the pros and cons. Then, overnight Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to impose one hundred percent tariffs on all films made outside of the US. So as the world order shifts, is there a case to be made for New Zealand to align with a different centre of global economic power?

Wallace Chapman previews tonight's instalment of The Panel.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Emile Donovan. Then: our cities have no shortage of soil, from sports fields to berms lining most streets. But infrastructure works are compacting the soil to the point where it can't act like the sponge it should be in flooding events. Water design expert Sue Ira digs into the issue.